The Truth Comes Out! Operation Shigaya?

Lucy "Ryuji, why have you been avoiding me? Was it something I said? Do you… not like me anymore?.."

She asks softly and sadly.

Ryuji "No! No, that's not it."

He says quickly before calming a bit.

Ryuji "It's just… I can't help but feel like… I'm not good enough for you…"

He says quietly while looking away.

Ryuji "I really, really like you Lucy. I want to be someone you can be proud of."

Lucy "But I am proud of you! Ryuji, I've never met anyone like you. You're cool, calm, handsome and one of the most talented cooks I've ever met! Have I done something to make you feel not good enough for me?"

Ryuji shakes his head.

Lucy "Then where is this coming from? I need to know because I hate seeing you like this."

Ryuji hesitates for a moment before thinking about what Shiori said.

Shiori "It's always best to tell people the truth about how you're feeling. Running away won't solve anything."

Ryuji grits his teeth a bit before answering.

Ryuji "It's… your brother."

Lucy looks surprised.

Ryuji "He's always told me that I'm not good enough for you and if I stick around I'll only end up hurting your family whenever he's around. And that's the last thing I want to do."

He says softly while looking down.

Lucy "Wait, Yamato has been saying that to you?"

Ryuji nods softly. Lucy gets angry.

Lucy "That dumb idiot! When I see him again I'm gonna-"

Ryuji gets worried.

Ryuji "No, don't worry about it. I don't want to ruin your relationship with your brother."

Lucy looks at him still a little angry but confused.

Lucy "It won't ruin anything. We may fight about it and he may get upset at me but that's what siblings do. At the end of the day, I'll love my brother no matter what but I sure as Hell ain't gonna let him slide with this. C'mon."

She gets up and grabs his hand, pulling him along. He looks surprised and a little confused.

Ryuji 'It's hard for me to understand the relationships between siblings sometimes… But maybe they're not as fragile as I thought."

They eventually get back to Lucy's house.

Lucy "You're spending the night with me and in the morning, I'm giving him an earful. Nobody gets to talk to you like that, especially not on my behalf."

Ryuji blushes as she speaks angrily. She pulls him inside as they go to her room.

In the morning, Kenji helps Yamato put his belongings in the trunk of his car as Yuri watches.

Kenji "It's too bad Ryuji couldn't see you off too. He's such a good kid."

Yamato "If you say so."

He says with a neutral look.

Lucy "Yamato!"

She yells from inside the house as she marches down the stairs towards the front door with Ryuji behind her. Kenji smiles.

Kenji "Oh, there he is."

Yamato "What's up little-"

Suddenly, Lucy dropkicks Yamato in the face and sends him tumbling to the ground.

Lucy "Don't you little sis me! Ryuji told me what you said to him and I'm pissed!"

Yamato gets up, sweating with a worried look.

Yamato "W-what are you talking about?"

Lucy "Don't play dumb! Telling him he's not good enough and that he's hurting our family!"

Yuri and Kenji both look at Yamato as he stands up.

Yuri "Yamato! Is that true?"

She asks in disbelief and disappointment. Yamato hesitates before answering.

Yamato "Yes, it's true."

Kenji "Why would you say that to him? He's a great kid! He helps me out at the drop of a hat whenever I ask, he is talented and best of all he makes Lucy happy!"

He says with a disappointed look.

Yamato "But it's true! From the moment he met her, he's been nothing but trouble! His careless attitude will only lead to an empty future. Lucy should be more focused on her own future instead of-"

Lucy "Shut up!"

She shouts as he does. She gives him a serious look.

Lucy "The only thing about my future I'm concerned with is becoming his wife!"

She says passionately. Yamato sweats and gets a surprised look. Yuri blushes and covers her mouth and smile. Ryuji blushes intensely.

Lucy "So you better hurry up and apologize to him. Go on Ryuji."

She looks back at him with a serious look as he hesitantly steps forward in front of Yamato. He gets an irritated look before bowing to him angrily.

Yamato "I'm sorry for treating you the way I have these past years."

He says, irritated.

Ryuji "Please stand up. You don't owe me an apology."

He looks up at Ryuji, a bit surprised as the others are shocked.

Lucy "Ryuji!"

Ryuji "You were only looking after Lucy. How could I be mad at that?"

He says with a soft smile as Yamato is shocked. He looks conflicted as he sweats a bit. He looks at Lucy who is blushing.

Yamato "Sis, does he really make you happy?"

Lucy "More than anything else could."

Yamato sighs in defeat while scratching the back of his head.

Yamato "Well I guess that's that. You beat me."

Ryuji sweats a bit.

Ryuji "This isn't a competition…"

He says softly. Yamato gives him a serious look.

Yamato "But don't think this means I'm gonna be easy on you. You better keep making my sister happy or I'll never accept you as a part of our family."

He says sharply. Ryuji nods as Kenji pats him on the back.

Kenji "I told you, he's a good kid."

Yamato smiles a bit while closing the trunk of his car.

Yamato "Well I'm off until next time. Kenji and Yuri take turns giving him a hug until he looks at Lucy. She looks upset but hugs her brother anyway. After she pulls away from the hug, she points at him.

Lucy "You better bring Ryuji a good gift next time you come or I'll never forgive you."

He laughs and sweats a bit.

Yamato "Alright, alright. I love you too, Lucy."

Lucy smiles a bit.

Lucy "Love you big bro."

Yamato smiles as he waves goodbye before leaving.

Lucy "Hey Ryuji."

He looks at her with a soft smile.

Ryuji "Hm?"

Lucy "Why don't we bring your mom a hot meal?"

She asks with a big smile. Ryuji blushes and smiles at her before nodding.

Some days later, Christmas has come and gone. Haru flops onto his bed on his back with a big smile on his face.

Haru "Ah, it's so nice to be back home!"

Sugawara sits down next to him after putting a bag down.

Sugawara "Yeah, spending Christmas with your family was super fun though."

He thinks back to the moment they arrived…

Natsu and Fuyu step into a large, traditional house.

Natsu "Father, we're here!"

He shouts loudly as an old man steps from around the corner. He focuses his glasses and gets a big smile.

Obito "Ah, Natsu my boy! Long time no see!"

He hugs his son gently as another woman around Natsu's age steps in.

Tsuyu "Must you be so loud? Not everyone here enjoys your voice so much."

She says sharply with a glare. Natsu laughs.

Natsu "I missed you too my dear sister!"

Obito turns and looks at Fuyu.

Obito "Now where are my lovely grandchildren?"

Aki "Here grandpa!"

She rushes out from behind Fuyu and gives him a hug as he chuckles.

Obito "Oh my, look how big you've gotten! I can only imagine how tall Haru is now."

Haru "Yep still growin'."

He says with a smile as Haru and Sugawara step inside. Sugawara sweats a bit nervously.

Obito "Well don't worry. You'll end up like me one da- WOAH! HE BROUGHT A CUTE GIRL THIS TIME??"

He shouts, shocked by Sugawara. He gets mad at Obito's question.

Sugawara "I'm not a girl!"

The grandfather sweats a bit as he looks confused.

Obito "You're not?.. Well then you're probably the prettiest person Haru will ever be able to talk to."

Haru "Grandpa!"

He yells, upset.

In Haru's room, he sits up, sweating a bit.

Haru "Yeah, sorry about my family. They aren't all weird, I promise."

Sugawara giggles.

Sugawara "It's okay. I enjoyed it."

He says with a warm smile and a blush. Haru smiles back before getting a thought.

Haru "Oh yeah! New Year's coming up. What are we gonna do this year?"

Sugawara thinks for a moment.

Sugawara "I don't know. Maybe we can invite the others to another party?"

Haru looks conflicted.

Haru "Those are always fun but I want to do something a bit more extravagant. Oh well, I'll just call the others and see what they think."

He reaches over to grab his phone but before he can get a hold of it, it begins to ring. They're surprised that the name reads 'Chizuru'. Haru is surprised but grabs the phone and answers.

Haru "Hey Chizuru."

Chizuru "Haru, it's time."

She says with a serious tone. Haru's eyes sharpen a bit.

Chizuru "Get Sugawara and meet me at my house."

Haru "Got it."

Sugawara looks a bit concerned as Haru hangs up. He looks at Sugawara.

Sugawara "What's going on?"

Haru "Operation Shigaya starts now."

Sugawara is surprised a bit but gets a determined smile and nods.